Eagles sign quarterback Cody Kessler: What our writers think

The Eagles on Monday signed another quarterback, Cody Kessler, who has starting experience with the Browns.

Here’s what three of our beat writers think of the move.

I had been curious about the quarterback depth chart, considering Carson Wentz has finished the last two seasons on the sideline and Nate Sudfeld has only 25 career pass attempts. I had envisioned their signing a quarterback with more experience than Cody Kessler. That didn’t happen — what established No. 2 quarterback would come in with the mandate of competing against Sudfeld? — and Kessler is the best they’re able to do in that department.

I won’t knock the signing because it’s an inexpensive option at a time of year without many alternatives, but I don’t think Kessler is the type of reserve who answers questions about the backup quarterback.

You have him compete with Sudfeld for the No. 2 spot (I’d keep Clayton Thorson as a developmental No. 3), and you see who looks good this summer. Best-case scenario for the Eagles is that both Sudfeld and Kessler impress and a trade market develops for one of them. Worst-case scenario is they both look bad and are not answer to the backup-quarterback question. (Actually, worst-case scenario is Wentz gets injured again.)

I like the idea of giving Sudfeld a chance. He has developed here, he knows the offense, he’s next in line, and he has tools to be a good player. But Kessler is at a similar career point as Sudfeld. They were both drafted in 2016 (the same year as Wentz), and Kessler has had flashes in the NFL. He was prolific at USC, and though he doesn’t have ideal size or arm strength, he’ll complete passes and he can be effective in the offense. He’ll compete this summer.

It’s a no-risk move. I’d rather have Kessler than Luis Perez. But I’m not giving it a thumbs up because I don’t think they’re worry-free at No. 2 quarterback.

Hi. I am the guy who likes Nate Sudfeld and thinks he might actually be decent. Go ahead and make fun.

Of course, the backup quarterback is incredibly important for a team whose franchise quarterback has watched the playoffs from the sideline the last two seasons, including Super Bowl LII. Anybody you can bring in is going to be a step down from Nick Foles. That’s just reality. It’s a concern that Sudfeld has thrown just 25 passes in real NFL games.

Kessler is from the same 2016 draft as Sudfeld and Carson Wentz, but he has had more chances to play than Sudfeld. I don’t think he has as good an arm as Sudfeld, and the Browns and Jags decided they could do without him after giving him extended looks.

There’s nothing wrong with bringing in extra competition/insurance, but I’ll be disappointed if Sudfeld, with two seasons of Doug Pederson’s offense under his belt, can’t hold off this challenge. And if Kessler somehow unseats rookie Clayton Thorson, that’s a waste of a pick in a draft in which you had only five selections, which would be pretty egregious.

No team in the National Football League understands the importance of having a capable backup quarterback better than the Eagles.

Maybe Carson Wentz can stay in one piece for an entire season. But history tells us the odds of that happening aren’t particularly good. He’s probably going to get hurt again, and the Eagles are going to need another quarterback to come to the rescue, and Superman has relocated to Jacksonville.

Nate Sudfeld looks like Nick Foles, and maybe he’ll prove he can play like him if something happens to Wentz again. But I’m not sold on the guy.

At the very least, Cody Kessler will push Sudfeld and make him better. At the very most, he will outplay him and wrestle the No. 2 job away from him.

Howie Roseman and Joe Douglas have been aggressive the entire offseason, and they’re being aggressive here, too. They’re trying to be ready for every eventuality, including the possibility that Sudfeld isn’t as good as they think he is.

Kessler is young, but he has experience. He has started 12 games in his three NFL seasons. He has nearly 350 regular-season pass attempts.

As I said, Wentz probably is going to get hurt again. Adding Kessler improves the odds that the world won’t end for the Eagles when that happens.